Meet the Former Industrial Designer Who Now Makes the $500 and Under Bags We All Want and Need

Meb Rure moved seamlessly from one medium to another. With a background in industrial design and a career spent crafting modern furniture, her leap into accessories and the launch of her label Mlouye wasn’t exactly a confusing one. As she explains, “When designing both furniture and handbags, you have to have a progressive idea. My first bags were conceived when I was still in the mindset of an industrial designer—instinctively, I wanted to find a solution to a problem.” For her, that issue was the fact that she saw a hole in the bag market for women who wanted something sleek and minimal that would also still hold all of their belongings for the daily rush. Also, the price and quality had to be just right. “I designed a bag that can be easily converted into a backpack with minimal material. ‘Form follows function,’ is how most industrial designers and architects think—I still follow that, but I’m learning to think more like a fashion designer.”

Rure’s collection is made up of 14 styles that include sculptural shoulder bags, totes, top-handles, and backpacks—all of which can be worn in various ways thanks to long, convertible straps—in earthy shades like hunter green, dark sand, taupe, and baby pink. Everything is available online and priced between $200 and $500. The leather is sourced from environmentally friendly tanneries in Italy, France, and Turkey, where Rure is based and everything is assembled by hand. “I am designing for people who have a sense of aesthetics and an interest in design,” Rure says. “We have a variety of customer profiles, from executive managers to students.” In her dream world, there are two very specific ladies she pictures with a Mlouye masterpiece on their arms. “I would love to see one of my designs on Zaha Hadid, if she were still alive. She had an ultra-modern and constructive fashion style. And of course, Tilda Swinton, because everything just looks unearthly on her.”

Above, a look at some of the standout pieces from Mlouye’s latest collection.